that rocket was fired today, flying in the direction of the philippines. the white house called it provocative. the successful test firing follows four failures and the u.s. and other countries have to deal with a north korea that could be a big step closer to being able to launch a missile loaded with a nuclear weapon. experts say they have a long way to go before they can threaten neighboring countries and perhaps one day the west coast of the united states and they have yet to develop a warhead to fit atop that missile. but they're making significant progress. >> if it got to the stage it can reach los angeles. that's the significance for us. and we're just five days away from when kim jong-il passed away. so there's a symbolic importance for them doing this now. so this is the furthest they've gotten. so we have to keep an eye the closer they get. they have clearly made progress. >>> in other news this morning, and to capitol hill, the slow progress being made toward a fiscal compromise in this country that would avoid tax hikes for all of us come next